Sheet accumulator



June 12, 1923.

D. BELCHER SHEET ACCUMULATOR Filed May 9, 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet l June 12, 1923.

D. BELCHER SHEET ACCUMULATOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 9. 1921 4 fia/cdew 3 @JL 4 7% Y June 12, E923 11,458,331?

D. BELCHER SHEET ACCUMULATOR Filed May 9. 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I June 112, 1923.

D. BELCHER SHEET ACCUMULATOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 12,1923. 11,458,311?

D. BELCHER SHEET ACCUMULATOR Filed May 9, 1921 June 12, 1923. 11,458,317

D. BELC H ER SHEET ACCUMULATOR Filed May 9. 1921 e Sheets- Sheet 6 ma m i Patented June 111?, I923.

YATES DANIEL BELCHER, OF WEBSTER GROVES,

MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO BEMIS BRO. BAG

COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, IVIISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

SHEET ACCUMULATOR.

Application filed May 9,

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL BELCHER, a citizen of the United States of America, a resident of Webster Groves, in the county of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet Accumulators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in sheet-accumulators having sheet-holders adapted to receive collections of sheets. The sheet material transmitted to the holders may be folded and in the form of bags, although it is to be understood that other forms of sheet material could be fed to and held by the sheet-holders.

One object of the invention is to provide an accumulator equipped with means for supporting and counting the sheets passing from a feeding device. More specifically stated, an object is to produce an apparatus of this kind adapted to receive and count the bags passing from a bag-turning machine.

Prior to this invention, bags have been transmitted one at at time from a bag-turning machine, and after passing from the machine they have been picked up by an operator and counted while they are manually handled and arranged in piles. This handling of individual bags requires considerable time and labor, and the counting is not always correct, so it has been customary to check the counting, either by weighing the piles of bags or by recounting the individual bags.

According to the present invention, the bags may be automatically counted and collected in piles as they pass from a bag-turninn" machine. This eliminates the labor ordinarily involved in handling and counting the individual bags, and it insures ab solute accuracy in the counting of the bags.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention comprises the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it is to be understood that the invention compre hends changes, variations and modifications 1921. Serial No. 467,848.

which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Briefly stated, the mechanism I have shown to illustrate one form of the invention includes a bag-turning device having a reciprocating plunger whereby the bags are turned, and an accumulator having a series of bag-holders, or sheet-holders, adapted to receive the bags passing from the bag-turning device. The accumulator moves step by step to successively locate the bag-holders in the path of the bag-turning plunger, each bag-holder being in the form of a gripper adapted to receive margins of a collection of bags. After a predetermined number of bags have been delivered to a bag-holder, all of the bag-holders are shifted to displace the collection of bags from the path of the bag-turning plunger while an empty bagholder is positioned to receive the next collection of bags. The counting of the bags is determined by the transmission of motion from the bag-turning plunger and through the bags themselves, so if the plunger is 1dly acutated without feeding a bag to the bag-holder, there will be no effective operation of the counting mechanism. The motion of the counting mechanism is thus derived from the plunger which feeds the bags to the bag-holders, but this counting mechanism is not acutated unless a bag is delivered to a bag-holder.

Fig. I is a side elevation of a bag-turning machine equipped with an accumulator embodying the features of this invention.

Fig. II is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section. showing a portion of the accumulator to which the bags are delivered from the-bag-turning mechanism.

Fig. III is a rear elevation of the ma chine shown in Fig. I

Fig. IV is a detail view illustrating the means for opening accumulator.

Fig. V is a fragmentary view showing certain parts of the means for shifting the bag-holding arms in the bag-turning machine.

Fig. VI is a top or plan view of the machine shown in Figs. I and II, the accumulator being shown in section.

Fig. VII is a detail view of the means for controlling the counting mechanism of the accumulator.

' Fig. VIII is a section taken approxithe bag-holders in the mately on the line VIII-VIII, Fig. VII, and showing a disk and ratchet wheel which donot appear in Fig. VII.

Fig IX is a fragmentary view of a part of the mechanism through which motion is transmitted to the bag-turning plunger.

Fig. X is an enlarged fragmentary top view of the bag-turning plunger and certain elements associated therewith.

Fig. XI is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. X, and also showing a part oi? the accumulator and the bag-holding arms which do not appear in Fig. X

Fig. XII is a view' similar to Flg. XI ,illustrating the parts in the positions they occupy when a -bag is delivered to the accumulator.

Fig. XIII is an enlarged detail View showing the ratchet device whereby a step by 20 step motion isimparted to the accumulator. Fig. XIV is a side elevation of the parts at the upper portion of Fig. XIII, and also showing a part of the means forunlocking the accumulator.

Fig. XV is a vertical section showlng the ratchet devices forming part ofthe counting mechanism.

Fig. XVI is a detail view of one of the ratchet devices shown in-Fig. XV.

Fig. XVII is a side elevation. of the ratchet device shown in Fig. XVI.

Fig. XVIII is an enlarged top or plan view showing a portion of the bag-turning plunger and also showing the arms which hold the bag while it is acted upon by the upon by the plunger. These arms (Figs. I,

VI, XI, XVIII, XIX and XX) .are supported by a carrier B slidably mounted on ahorizontalrod 3, said carrier having a de pending lug 4 (Figs. X and XIX) extend- ,ing into a horizontal groove which lies parallel with the guide rod 8. The carrier B is thus guided in a straight, horizontal line and it can be reciprocated to locate the bagholdingarms 1 and 2 at the path of the bagturning plunger A.. The bag-holding arms 2 are rigidly secured to the carrier 13 by means-of screws 5,

which are shown most clearly in Fig. XIX. Each arm 1 (Figs. XVIII and XIX) issecured by means of screws 6 to an operating arm 7 and each of said operating arms is pivoted to the carrier by means of a screw by the same characters. plunger A is in the form of a wide. blade clamping screw 15.

The bag-turning plunger A is supported 8. The two operating arms 7 are parallel with each other and they'are connected together through the medium of a spacer block 9 (Figs. XVIII and XIX) having a roll 10 which lies .in a groove 11 formed in a stationary cam 12. IVhenthecarrier B is reciprocated along the guide rod 3, the roll 10 (Figs. XVIII and XIX) travels in the cam 12with the result of moving the pivoted arms 1 toward'and away from the arms 2,

each arm 1 being pivoted at 8 and provided with an operating arm? to which the roll 10 is secured. a

WVhenthe' carrier B occupies the position shown byfull lines in FigsgVI and XVIII, the outer endsof the bag-receiving arms 1 lie adjacent'to the arms 2, and a bag can then be very easily slipped onto said arms. InFig. VI I have shown a table 13 adapted to support the bags to be turned, When the machine is. in service, the operator removes the top bag from a pile of bags on thetable' 13, and slips the bag ontothe arms 1 and 2, while said arms are locatedin their bag-receiving positions entirely beyond the path of the bag-turning plunger A. Thereafter the carrier 13 is actuated to shift these bag- IBCBlVlIlg arms fromv the positions shown by full lines inFig. XVIII to the positions shown. by dotted lines, and during this op eration the roll 10 travels in the cam 12 for the purpose of moving the arm 1 away from the; arm 2, and'when said arms occupy the positions shown by dotted lines, the arm 1 is parallel with the arm 2. The bag-turning plunger A. then moves to the left from the position shown by Fig. XVIII and it engages the closed end of the bag with the result of turning the bagon the outer ends of the arms 1 and 2. Figs. XIXand XX show that there are two upper'arms 'designa-ted 1 and 2 and two lower arms designated which travels between the upper and lower arms while it engages the closed end of-the bag X. The bag is thusturned, or reversed,

The bag-turning while it is drawn around the outer ends of 7 the arms 1 and 2, said outer ends being located adjacent to the plunger A in FigsJXI and XVIII. During the bag-turning operation, the bag is stripped from the arms 1 and 2, and the plunger A eventually forces the closed end of the bag into the accumulator, as willbe hereafter described.

The cam 12 (Fig. XVIII) is normally sta-' tionary, although it is adjustably secured through the medium of a pivot 14 and a by a reciprocating carriage-C slidably mounted on horizontal guide rods 16 which lie at a right angle to the guide rod 3. The

carriage 0 includes tubular members sur rounding the respective guide rods 16, and

a web 17 connecting said tubular members, as shown most clearly by Figs. XI and XII. The bag-turning plunger A is rigidly secured to a lug 18 which extends from the web 17. It will now be understood that the carriage C, including its web 17 and lug 18, may be reciprocated along the guide rod 16, and that the plunger A will travel with this carriage.

The means for reciprocating the carriage C includes a long lever 19 (Figs. I, VI, XI and XIII) and a link 20 connecting said lever to the carriage C. The lever 19 is pivotally supported at 21, as shown by Figs. I and VI. This lever is actuated through themedium of a crank 22 fixed to a shaft 23 (Figs. I and IX) and a link whereby motion is transmitted from the crank 22 to said lever 19. This link includes a rod 24 (Fig. IX) and connecting devices 25 and 26 adjustably moiinted on said rod, the rodbeing threaded to receive nuts between which the connecting devices are secured. The connecting device 25 is secured to the crank 22 through the medium of a pivot 27, and the connecting device 26 is attached to the lever 19 through the medium'of a pivot 23. The shaft 23 is rotated continuously through the medium of a large gear wheel 29 (Figs. I and VI), which is fixed to said shaft. a pinion 3O meshing with said. gear wheel. said pinion being fixed to a shaft 31. provided with an operating pulley 32. The pulley 32 may be driven continuously with the result of transmitting motion through the mechanism just described and thereby imparting a reciproeating motion to the bag-turning plunger A.

I will now describe the means for reciprocating the carrier B to which the bag-holding arms 1 and 2 are secured. 33 designates a long operating lever (Figs. I, III and XIX) in the form of a bell crank pivotally supported by avpin 34 (Fig. III) and having a slot 35 at its upper end for the reception of a pin 36 on the reciprocating carrier B. A tension spring 37 is connected at its upper end to the short arm of the lever 33, as shown by Figs. I and III, the lower end of said spring being secured to a stationary part of the machine frame. This spring 37' cooperates with the lever to, move the carrier B in one direction. The means for moving the carrier B in the opposite direction includes a cam 38 (Figs. I, V and VI) on a rotary shaft 39, a lever 40 pivotally supported at 41 (Fig. V), said lever having a roll which engages the cam 38, and a link connecting the lever 40 to the long lever This connecting link includes a rod 42 provided at its ends with connecting devices 43 (Figs. III and V) which are pivoted to the levers 33 and 40, respectively. The shaft 39 is rotated continuously, as will be hereafter described, and the cam 38 is secured to this shaft for the purpose of actuating the lever 40, whereby motion is transmitted through the rod 42 and connecting devices 43 to the long operating lever 33, for the purposeof actuating the carrier B to which the bagreceiving arms 1 and 2 are secured. The cam 38 serves as means for moving the lever 33 and carrier B in one direction, and these elements are restored through the medium of the spring 37 (Figs. I and III).

The means for rotating the cam shaft 39 comprises a bevel gear 44 fixed to said shaft 39 (Figs. I and VI) and a bevel gear 45 meshing with the gear 44, said gear 45 being secured to the rotary shaft 23.

It will now be understood that the bagreceiving arms 1 and '2 are secured to the reciprocating carrier B, and that the bagturning plunger A is secured to a reciprocating carriage which travels in a line at a right angle to the path of the carrier B. The arms 1 and 2 are shifted from their bagreceiving positions shown by full lines in Figs. VI and XVIII, to their bag-turning positions shown by dotted lines in Fig. XVIII and by full lines in Figs. X and XX. The bag-turning plunger A is shifted from the position shown by Figs. X and XI to the position shown by Fig. XII for the pur pose of turning the bag X and delivering it to an accumulator. The plunger A forms part of the bag-turning machine, and it also serves as a feeder for transmitting the bag from the bag-turning mechanism to the accumulator.

I will now refer to abag-opening member in the form of a blade 46. which is shown most clearly .in Figs. X, XI and XII. After the bag X has been turned, and after the bag-receiving arms 1 and 2 have been displaced .from their bag-turning positions, the

blade 46 enters the mouth of the bag and moves downwardly to the position shown by Fig. XII, for the purpose of forcibly opening the mouth of the bag, which is then supported on the plunger A. The cooperative action of the plunger A and arms 1 and 2 doesnot always completely turn the corners at the mouths of the bags, and the function of the blade 46 is to forcibly open the bags, as shown by Fig. XII, for the purpose of removing wrinkles from these corners of the bags.

The bag-opening blade 46 is secured to an approximately horizontal plate 47 (Figs. X, XI and XII) and thisplate 47 is supported by a pair of parallel arms 48 and 49 on the reciprocating carriage C. The arm 49 is pivoted to the carriage 0 through the medium of a pivot rod 49 (Figs. XI and XII), and the arm 48 is secured to a pivot rod 48 which is also mounted in the carriage C. The upper end of arm 48 is attached t0 the plate 47 by means of a pivot pin 50, and the upper end of arm 48 is provided with a pin 51 which extends into a slot 52 in the plate 47. A spring 53 connects the pin 50 to the pin 51, as shown by Figs. XI and X11, and this spring yield iiigly retains the pivot pin 51 in the righthand end of the slot 52 in the plate 47'. The .pin '51 normally lies in this end of the slot and it is only under unusual conditions that said pin occupies any other position relative to the slot, so the pin 51 may be considered as a pivotalconnection between the arm 48 and the plate 47. The purpose of the spring and slot52 will be hereafter described.

9 To Shiftfithe bag-opening blade 46 -to the position shown by Fig. XII, an operating arm 54 (FigsQX Iand' XII) is secured to the pivot rod 48 onwhichthe arm 48 is secured- From the foregoing it should be understood that if the operating arm 54 is moved downwardly from the position shown by Fig. XI, the arm 48 will move forwardly and downwardly,and a correspondingmovement will be imparted to the arm 49, for

these arms 48 and 49 are secured to the plate 47 through the medium of pivot pins 50 and 51, and the spring 53 tends to retain the pivot pin 51 in a fixed position relative to the pin 50. Therefore, when the operating arm 54 ismo-ved downwardly from the position, shown by Fig. XI, the plate 47 will move forwardly and downwardly, the object being to impart a movement of this kind to the'Ibag-opening blade-46 which is I inserted into the'mouth of the bag and then moved to the position shownby Fig.-XII. The operating arm 54 is provided with a" roller at 55 adapted to travelalong a horizontal track '56 leading to a downwardly extending .cam slot 57', saidslot being formed,

in a bracket 58 which is secured to a stationary part of the frame by means of bolts 59 shown in Figs. X and XI.

.During each bag-turning operation, the

reciprocatingcarriage G moves to the left positio n shown by Fig. .XII;

turn the bag.

from theposition shown by Figs. X and XI,

and the arnis48, 49 and 54 are carried by this reciprocating carriage.

As .a consequence the roll on the end ofarm 54 travels to the left along the track '56 and then into the. cam slot 57, whereby said arm 54 is thrown forwardly and downwardly to the Motion is thus transmitted from the operating arm 54 to the.bag-o1:i e1iing blade 46 so as to shift said blade to the position shown in Fig.

XII. The blade46 enters the mouthv of the bag and then: moves downw ardly to forcibly I open'the bag, as previously pointed out, for

the purpose of removing wrinkles of the corners at the mouth of the bag. I

I Under some unusual conditions, the bagturning plunger, A may fail'to properly For-example, a bag may-be improperly applied to the arms 1 and 2,

so that its closed end will hangfroin said arms, or a bag may not he slipped over all of the arms 1 and 2, it being understood that there are four of these arms. If a bag is thus improperly applied'to the arms 1 and 2, the plunger A may be forcedthrough ward motion of the blade, said blade is yieldinglysecured to the cam-actuated arm 54. -This yielding securing means includes the spring 53 (l ig whereby the pivot 50 is connected to the pivot 51, the latter being in the slot 52. By mounting theblade 46011 a yieldingsiipport' of this kind,the

cam-actuated arm 54 can move downwardly without imparting a forward motion to the blade 46Wl1911 the latter stopped by en' gaging a mutilatedbag on the arms; 1 and 2. Before'pointing out the detailsof the, accumulator shown in the drawings, 1 will state that this device comprises a rotary drumprovided with a series of radial bagholders, in the form of grippers, which are adapted to hold collection of bags. The

drum is turned step by step to successively locate the grippers in alinement with the bag-turning plunger which forces the closed ends o-fthe bags into the grippers. After a I predetermined number of bags have been delivered to a gripper, the rotary drum is advanced one'step to displacethe collection,

of bags from the path of the bag't'urning plunger and to locate an empty gripper at said path. "This device also includes means for opening the grippersto provide for the admission of the bags, and means whereby the operations of the bags are. deflected downwardly from the" grippers to points e n-- tirely, below the plunger. I I D designates a rotary drum comprising a path of the bag-turning pair of circular side plates-6O connected to gether through the medium of rods 61, said drum being fixed to a shaft 62 rotatably mounted in bearings-68. The series of bag-.

holders is formed by radial grippers located between the side plates 60 of the drum.

Each gripper comprises a'rigid gripping jaw 64 (Figs; 11 and- III) whichmay be made of a, pair of approximately flat plates having ears through which the connecting rodse61 are inserted. These rods 61 rigidly secure the rigid jaws64'to the rotary drum D. Each gripper also includes a series of yielding aws 65 (Figs, II and III) and each jaw 65 is in the form of a lever fulcrumed on a pivot pin 66 at'the free end of an arm 67 said" arm being supported by a pivot pin I v '68 (Fig. II) carried by the rotary drum. Each arm 67 may be moved about the axis of its pivot 68, and each yielding gripper jaw 65.is movable about its fulcrum or pivot 66. Each arm 6? is provided with an extension 67 (Fig. II), and a 'spring 69 is interposed between this extension and a similar extension on a rigid jaw 64. In F igs. II, X and XII, X designates a collection of bags hanging from one of the gripping deforce the closed end of a bag between its gripping jaws 64: and 65. Immediately before a bag is forced into a gripping device, the yieldingly mounted lower gripping jaw 65 is actuated to open the gripping device. In this connection note that each gripping jaw 65 is in the form of a lever adapted to contact with the bags at points on opposite sides of the lever fulcrum 66, so the outer end of a gripping jaw 65 may be depressed to open the gripping device without releasing the bags. When the outer end of a gripping jaw 65 is forced away from its companion jaw 64, the inner end of jaw65 will firmly contact with the collection of bags, so as to securely hold the same. The inner end of each gripping jaw 65 is preferably rounded as shown in Fig. II. and this rounded portion contacts with the collection of bags when the outer end of the jaw is forced downwardly. The outer-ends of the companion jaws 65 and 64 are preferably flared away from each other to provide a relatively wide intake for the gripping device.

The means for opening the grippers preferably includes a pair of pressure fingers 70 shown in Figs. II, IV, and V I, said fingers being adapted to overlie the collection of bags X in' the gripping device which is po- ,sitioned in the path of the bag-turning plunger. These pressure fingersyor opening fingers, are secured to operating rods 71 at opposite sides of the last mentioned gripping device, and said fingers extend) over the yieldable lower jaws of said gripping device. Before describing the details of the mechanism for actuating the fingers 70,'I will briefly describe the peculiar movements which are imparted to these fingers. Immediately before a bag is delivered to the gripping device, the fingers more downwardly and they press upon the top bag in the collection X (Fig. II) so as to move the outer end of gripping jaw 65 away from the rigid gripping jaw 64. The fingers 70 are thus shifted to points entirely below the path of the bag-turning plunger where they hold the gripping 65 in its open position. while the bag is being inserted into the gripping device. Thereafter. the bag turning plunger A is withdrawn from the gripping device, and also from the bag, the lat ter being secured by the grippin aws. The last mentioned bag then extends over the fingers 70, and it is necessary to withdraw these fingers from the bags. The fingers therefore move away from each other to positions entirely beyond the bags, and they then move upwardly and toward each other so as to again overlie the collection of bags, as will be presently described.

The means for operating the fingers 70 is shown in Figs. I, III and IV. These fingers are rigidly secured to the approximately vertical rods, or arms 71, and the lower ends of these rods are loosely connected to a horizontal bar 72 (Fig. IV), said bar having slots 73 for the reception of pivot pins 74 whereby the rods 71 are loosely secured. The bar 72 is rigidly secured to a vertical rod 7 5 slidably mounted in a stationary guide 76 which is shown in Figs. I, III and IV. The upper end of rod is provided with a roll which engages a rotary cam 77. A spring 7 8 at the lower end of rod 7 5 tends to retain the roll in engagement with the cam 77. This cam is fixed to the rotary shaft 39, which has already been described. By referring to Fig. IV it will be seen that the rod 75 will move vertically in response to a rotary motion of the cam 77, and that a corresponding vertical motion will be imparted to the bar 72 to which the rods 71 and fingers 70 are loosely secured. However; the fingers70 must be moved away from each other to withdraw them from the bags. The rods 71 are therefore slidably mounted in tubular guides 79 (Figs. I and IV). each of said guides being fixed to an oscillatory arm 80 pivotally supported at 81. The inner ends of arms 80 (Fig. IV) are provided with gear teeth which mesh with each other, so that motion may be transmitted from one arm 80 to the other arm 80. One of the oscillatory arms 80 is provided with an operating arm 82 (Fig. IV) having a roller which engages a cam 83 on the rotary shaft 39. A spring 84 (Fig. IV) is connected to one of the oscillatory arms 80 for the purpose of retaining the operating arm 82 in engage ment with the cam 83.

The gripper-opening fingers 70 are operated. as follows: The fingers 70 are moved from the highest position shown by dotted lines in Fig. IV to the lower position shown by full lines. and this is accomplished. through the medium of the cam 77 which depresses the rod 75 to impart downward motion to the bar 72 and rods 71 on which the fingers 70 are mounted. After a bag has been delivered to the gripping device, the fingers 70 are moved away from each other and withdrawn from the space between the top bag and the next adjacent bag. The fingers are moved away from each other through the medium of the oscillatory arms 80 to which the tubular guides 79 are rigidly secured, The cam 83 acts upon the operating arm 82 toimpart upward motion to the arms 80, thereby forcing the fingers 70 away from each other, as suggested by dotted lines in Fig. IV. After'the fingers have been withdrawn from the bags, they aremoved upwardly and toward eachother, so as to occupy the "highestpositions shown by dotted lines in Fig. IV. The upward motion of the fingersis derived from the spring 7 8 at the bottom of Fig. IV, said spring acting upon therod 7 which engages the cam 77. The fingers are moved toward each other through the medium of spring 8a which acts upon the oscillatory arms 80, to move the fingers when the cam-actuated arm 82 is permitted to move-toward the shaft 89.

The bags are delivered one at a time to the gripping device, and after being delivered they should hang from the gripping device so that the collection of bags will not 1 in any way interfere withthe admission of the bags which are subsequently delivered by the bag-turning plunger.

For this reason, each opening-finger 7O is provided witha downturned extension wardly by the operating arm 54 while thethe blade 86. The collection of bags at X.

(Figs. IIand IV) serving as a. deflector whereby portions of the bags extending from the gripping device are positively is also acted upon by a smoothing device'in the form of a blade 86, shown in Figs. X, XI and 'XII, said blade having a straight edge adapted toengage the. collection ofbags X. The smoothing blade 86 is rigidly secured tov the plate 47 which is carried by the reciprocating carriageC, to which the bag-turning plunger is secured. I have .already described the means whereby the plate 47 is moved from the position shown in Fig. XI to the position shown in XII. This plate 47 is secured to the arms48 and 49, which are pivoted. to the carriage C and which are thrown forwardly and downroller on said arm is traveling in the cam slot 57. Thecsmoothing blade 86 therefore engages the collection. of bags 'X so as to force said bags to the left from the position shown in Fig. X, and at the same time this blade 86 moves downwardly to the position shown in Fig. XII, with the result of drawing the collectlon of bags downwardly and at the same time smoothing them above is thus smoothed and compacted immediately after each bag-turning operatiomso as to neatly arrange the collection of bags and at the same time prevent the bags from obstruc ting the path of the bag-turning pluner a I. The rotary drum D, which carries the series of bag-holding grippers, is normally forced" downwardly near the outer extremity of the v a gripping device. The collection of bags X .locked throughthe medium of a horizontal bolt 87 (Figs. I, III and-XI said .boltbeing slidably mounted in guides 88 which are shown in Fig. III. One sideof the rotary' drumis provided with a series of bolt-receiving holes 89 and lugs 90 adjacent toone side of each hole. The. lugs are shown in I Figs. VI and XI. One hole 89, is'formed for each gripping device'in the drum D, and when the'horiz'ontal locking bolt 87: is located in one of the holes, one of the grueping devices is positionedat the path ofthe bag-turning plunger. As shown in Fig. III,

a spring 91 is interposed between one of the stationary bearings 88 anda collar 92 on the locking bolt 87 and this spring tends toiretain the locking bolt in its operative position.

wheel 94 is keyed to the shaft 62, so saidshaft and the drum may be turned by the.

ratchet wheel 94. The hub of an arm 96 is loosely mounted on-the shaft 62. .A pawl 97, pivoted to the arm 96, as'shownby- Fig. XIV, is adapted to engage the ratchet wheel The collar 92 is extended Lip-- war'dly, asshown in Figs. III and XIV, to

94, but this pawl is normally engaged with I the periphery of a disk 98 whereby it is pre'- vented from engaging the teeth of, the

ratchet wheel. The pawl-carrying arm 96 (Figs; III, XIII andfXIV) is oscillated through themedium of a substantially ver- 1 tical rod 99 having its upper end pivoted to said arm, the lower end of rod 99 being pivoted to an operatinglever 100' providedwith a roll adapted to engage a-cam 101-on the rotary shaft 39. The lever 100 is pivotally supported at 102, as shown by Figs. III and XIII. The operating lever 100 is forced downwardly through the medium of the cam 101 and it is restored through the medirun of a rod 103 provided with a collar 104 (Fig.III), which is engaged by a spring 105. This spring tends to force the rod. 108

and lever 100 in an upward direction, there-- by retain ng the lever-100 in engagement,

with the canilOl. During each operation of the bag-turning mechanism,'the shaft 39 makes one revolution, and since the pawlcarrying arm 96. (Figs. XIII and XIV).is operated by the cam 101 on shaft 39,'it will be understood that this pawl-carrying arm 96. will oscillate in response to each bagturning operation. Howevergif the pawl 97 (Fig. XIV) is engaged with the periphery of the disk 98, said pawl will move idly without transmitting motion to the 98 is provided with a notch 106 (F ig. XIV), and when the.

ratchet wheel 94. This disk operating end of pawl 97 registers with this notch, the pawl will be permitted to engage a tooth on the ratchet wheel 94, and if the pawl-carrying arm 96 is then oscillated, the pawl will transmit motion to the ratchet wheel, so as to advance the rotary drum D one step. The pawl-carrying arm 96 is provided with a spring 107 (F ig. XIV) which engages the pawl 97 and which tends to force the pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel 94.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the pawl 97 is oscillated in response to each bag-turning operation, and that said pawl cannot transmit motion to the rotary drum on the shaft 62 until the notch 106 registers with the operating; end of the pawl. This notch 106 is formed in the disk 98 which moves step by step around the shaft 62, said disk moving one step in response to each bagturning operation.

Therefore, during each revolution of the wheel 108 (Figs. I, III, XV and XVII) disk 98, the drum D on the shaft 62 will be advanced one step, so as to displace a collection of bags from the path of the bag-turning plunger A and at the same timelocate an empty gripping device at said path. The disk 98 is operated through the medium of counting mechanism, the object being to deliver a predetermined number of bags to each gripping device in the rotary drum. When a predetermined number of bags, for example, twenty-five, has been delivered to a gripping device, the notch 106 (Fig. XIV) registers with the pawl 97 to permit opera tion of the ratchet 9 1.

The means for imparting a step by step motion to the disk 98 comprises a ratchet loosely mounted on a collar 109 on the drum carrying shaft 62. said ratchet wheel being secured to the disk 98 through the medium of a screw 110 which is shown in Fig. XV. The ratchet wheel 108 is driven through the medium of a pawl 111 (F igs. VII and XVII) on an oscillatory arm 112 having a hub which is loosely mounted on a bushing 113 at one end of the drumsupporting shaft 62. The oscillatory pawl-carrying arm 112 is driven through the medium or" a connect inc rod 114 having its upper end pivoted to said arm and its lower end pivoted to an operating lever 115 which is shown most clearly in Fig. XVI, the operating lever boine" pivotally supported at 116 and provided with a roll engaged by cam 117 on the constantly rotating shaft 39. As shown by Figs. I and XVI, a rod 118 depending from the lever 115 is provided with a collar 119 engaged by a spring 1 0, which tends to force the rod 118 in an upward direction,

thereby retaining the lever 115 in engagement with the cam 117. During each bagturning operation,,the operating lever 11.5 ('Fig. XVI) is actuated and motion is thus transmitted through the connecting rod 114; to the oscillatory pawl-carrying arm 112, which cooperates with the ratchet wheel 108 to shift the notched disk 98, the latter being shown in Figs. XIV and XV. The notched disk 98 therefore travels step by step in re sponse to the corresponding movements of the ratchetwheel 108, said ratchet wheel being advanced one step in response to each bag-turning operation {so as to serve as means for counting the bags transmitted to the bag=holding grippers. After a predetermined number of bags has been delivered to a gripper, the pawl 97 (Fig. XIV) reg-isters with the notch 106 so as to engage the ratchet wheel 94, whereby the rotary drum is shifted'to displace the preitletermined col lection of bagsfrom the path of the bagturning' plunger.

Immediately before the drum is shitted it must be unlocked, and this is accomplished as follows: In III. XI and XIV I have shown the spring-pressed lockingbolt 87 which normally liesin one of the holes 89 in the drum to retain said drum in a fixed position. The disk 98 (Figs. III, XIII and XIV) is provided with a cam which has been previously referred to, and this cam is adapted to engage an unlocking finger 92 on the bolt 87 for the purpose of unlocking the bolt. When the pawl 97 enters the notch 106 (Fig. XIV) the pawl is forced downwardlv with the result of simultaneously operatinir the disk 98 and the ratchet wheel 9%. More accurately stated. the pawl 97 first actuates the disk 98'to shift the unlocking cam 93 into engagement with the unlocking finger 92, thereby unlocking the rotary drum, and immediately thereafter the pawl 97 engages a tooth on the ratchet wheel 94:, so as to simultaneously actuate the ratchet 94 and disk 98. When the cam 93 passes from the unlocking finger 92. the spring-pressed bolt 87 Figs. III and XI) isfyieldingly forced into engagement with a side face of the drum. D, and'as the drum continuesin motion, one of its lugs 90 will strike the springpressed bolt 87. At this time the bolt 87 will register with one of the bolt-receiving open inns 89 and the bolt will be forced into this opening so as to again lock the fixed position. I

The notched disk 98 is secured to the ratchet wheel 108 through the medium ot a screw 110 F ig. XV) as n'eviously pointed out, and the ratchet device including the wheel 108 serves as means for imparting a step by step movement to the notched disk for the purpose of counting the bugs, out this notched disk is also moved through the me dium of pawl 97 (F ig. XIV) during the opdrum in a eration of shifting the rotary drum, and

wheneverthe disk is actuated by the pawl 97 the ratchet wheel 108 will tui'n with said disk. ,It is therefore unnecessary to term teeth on the entire periphery of the ratchet wheel 108 (Fig. XVI), 'IVlienthe plain arcuate peripheral portion of ratchet wheel 108 reaches a point adjacent tothe pawl 111, the notch 106 (Fig. XIV) lies adjacent to the pawl 97, and the disk 98 and ratchet wheel 108 are then turned through the niedium of the pawl 97, so as to idly move the ilaiii peripheral :tace Off disk 108 (Fig XVII) across the pawl 111. Of course, the

ratchet wheel could be pro'vided with teeth throughout its entire circumference, but in this event some of the teeth would perform nousetul function.

- This explanation is givento account for the bag-turning mechanism by an operator who vbag-turning operationrso as. to count untoothed peripheral 'portion' of ratchet during each complete operation of thebagturner; Bags are usually delivered to the occasionally fails to deliver a bag when the mechanism is positioned to receive the same;

Consequently the bag-turningmechanism is frequently operated when there is no bag delivered to the path of the bag-turiiingfpliin- $612, This being true, the coi'intiiig mechanism" should not "depend entirely upon the by the bagspassing to the drum D. Before motion of thebag-turning.mechanism the object being to accurately count' the bags;

irrespective of the number of strokesot the baa-turning device. I p

With this ob ect in View I have shown a controller for the counting means incliujling an operating member adapted to be actuated describing the details ofthis controllingdevice I will state that it includes a guard or shield, adapted to prevent effective operation ofthe counting ratchet, and an operat ing inember'located in the path of tlicbags, said operating member being shifted bythe bags so; as to shift the guard. or shield,

thereby permitting operation of the counts.

ing mechanism when a bag is passing to the rotary drum., The guard, or shield, coinprises a segmental member 121 (Figs. VII

' and VIII) located adjacent to the ratchet wheel 108 and loosely mounted on the collar 109, said member "121 having a ia'rcuate guard flange 122 which extends overa 1301 tion of the ratchet wheel 108. This shield may be oscillated about the axis of shaft 02, but it normally occupies the position shown by full lines in Fig. VII, where the guard flange 122 lies between the pawl 111 and the ratchet wheel 108. When the guard flange occupies thisposition, the pawl 111 can be shifted without transmitting motion to'the ratchet wheel 108. "Theguard'121 122 must be shifted to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. VII to permit transniis' sion of motion from pawl 111 to ratchet wheel 108. The means for shitting this guard comprisesan operating finger 1223 (Figs. I,jVI and VII)Icloc'ated adjacentv'to the bag-turning plunger A, said plunger being slotted at 124; (Fig. VI) to receive the I lower aortioii of fin er 123. It is im Dortant to observe that this operating finger 123 lies adjacent to; but beyondthe path .otthe bagturning plunger A so that said plunger can be operated without transmitting motion to the finger 123. 'I-Iowever, when .a bag is carried by the plunger said bag completely covers the 'slot 1242, and Ii'lOlZlOlilS trans mitted from the bagto the finger 123, so as to shift said finger from the positionshown by. full lines in Fig. 'VII, to the position shown by dottedv lines. I The means "for transmitting motion from finger 123 tothe guard 121-122 includes oscillatory shatt v 125 to which said fingerisrigidly secured, Q an arm .126'depending from said shamans a rod 127 whereby said arm is corinected to the segmental guard 121 122 From the YEOI'QQ'OIDQ' it will be readily understood that the bag-turning plunger can be reciprocated withoutdisplacing the operating finger 123 (Figs. VI and VII) and without displacing the guard 121-422.

tromfthepositionshown by Fig. VII. In

thisevent the pawl 111,;(F igQVII) will be.

shifted through the medium ofits operating mechanism which "moves in syncl iionism. with the bag-turning plunger, but said pawl delivered the bag-turningplunger A, said bag will strike the operating fi1iger123 and displace the same to the position shown by dotted linesin Fig. VII, thereby moving the guard 12 E122 to the position shown-by dotted lines and permitting the pawl 111 to engage the counting ratchet 108. The pawl 111 will then transmit motion to llllOQOillltingratchet, soas to count the'bag.

. will not transmit motion to the counting V ratchet 108, Howeveiywhen a bagis being a iio Although I have shown and described the invention in connection with a bag-turning machine, it is to be understood thatthe iiivention herein d sclosed is not/limited to such use. The bags are in the term of folded sheets, and it will be understood that other kinds oit'sheet material could be trans mitted f to the accumulator. However, numerous advantages are gained'by combining the accumulator with a bag-turning device, so .as to accurately count the bags andat the same time neatly arrange themin predetermined collections which can be readily baled or otherwise packed for shipment with very little labor on the part of the operator.

I claim:

1. An accumulator comprising a sheetholder provided with a sheet-gripper wherein the sheets accumulate, said sheet-gripper comprising a pair of gripping aws adapted to receive margins of a collection of sheets and a spring tending to force one of said jaws toward the other, means for feeding said margins of the sheets into said sheetgripper, and means whereby said sheet-gripper is shifted in response to a predetermined number of sheet-feeding operations.

2. In a sheet-counting apparatus, an accumulator comprising a series of sheet-grippers each of which is adapted to hold a collection of sheets, a feeder including a reciprocating sheet-pusher whereby margins of the sheets are pushed into said sheetgrippers, said sheet-grippers being shiftable step by step to successively aline them with said sheet-pusher, and counting means whereby said grippers are shifted in response to a predetermined number of sheet-feeding operations.

3. In a sheet-counting apparatus, an accumulator comprising a rotary drum provided with a series of radial sheet-grippers each of which is adapted to hold a collection of the sheets, a feeder including a recipro eating sheet-pusher whereby margins of the sheets are pushed into said sheet-grippers, said rotary drum being movable step by step to successively aline the sheetgrippers with said sheet-pusher, and counting means whereby said rotary drum is shifted in response to a predetermined number of sheetfeeding operations.

4-. An accumulator comprising a sheetholder provided with a sheet-gripper, an opening device whereby said sheet-gripper is opened to receive margins of the sheets, a sheet-feeder co-operating with said opening device to deliver sheets to said sheetholder, and means whereby said sheet-holder is shifted in response to a predetermined number of sheet-feeding operations.

5. An accumulator comprising a sheetholder provided with a sheet-gripper adapted to hold a collection of sheets, an opening device whereby said sheet-gripper is opened to receive margins of the sheets, a sheetfeeder cooperating with said opening device to deliver sheets to said sheet-holder, and counting means whereby said sheet-holder is shifted in response to a predetermined number of sheet-feeding operations.

6. An accumulator comprising a sheetholder provided with a sheet-gripper adapted to hold a collection of sheets, an opening device whereby said sheet gripper is opened to receive margins of the sheets, said opening device including a pressure member whereby the sheets are held when the gripper is open, a sheet-feeder cooperating with said opening device to deliver sheets to said sheet-holder, and means whereby said sheetholder is shifted in response to a predetermined number of sheet-feeding operations.

'7. An accumulator comprising a sheet holder provided with sheet-gripper adapted to hold a collection of sheets, said sheetgripper including a yieldable gripping jaw, an opening device whereby said sheetgripper is opened to receive margins of the sheets, said opening device including a pressure member which cooperates with said yieldable jaw to hold the sheets when the gripper is open, a sheet-feeder cooperating with said opening device to deliver sheets to said sheet-holder, and means whereby said sheet-holder is shifted in response to a predetermined number of sheet-feeding op erations.

8. An accumulator comprising a sheetholder provided with a sheet-gripper adapted to receive margins of a collection of sheets, an opening device whereby said sheetgripper is opened to receive said margins, a sheet-feeder cooperating with said opening device to deliver sheets to said sheet-holder, said sheet-feeder including a sheet-pusher movable over the margins of the sheets in said sheet-gripper, and said opening device including a pressure member whereby said margins of the sheets are displaced and held below the path of said sheet-pusher.

9. An accumulator comprising a sheetholder provided with a sheet-gripper adapted to hold a collection of sheets, an opening device whereby said sheetripper is opened to receive margins of the sheets, said open mg device including a pressure member adapted to engage the top sheet of the collection, a sheet-feeder movable over said pressure member to deliver the sheets to said holder, and means for withdrawing said pressure member from the sheets.

10. An accumulator comprising a sheetholder provided with a sheet-gripper adapted to hold a collection of sheets, an opening device whereby said sheet-gripper is opened to receive margins of the sheets, said opening device including a pressure member adapted to engage the top sheet of the collection, a sheet-feeder movable over said pressure member to deliver the sheets to said holder, and means whereby said pressure member is shifted laterally from the sheets and thereafter restored to engage the top sheet.

11. Au accumulator comprising a sheetholder provided with a sheet gripper adapted to hold margins of a collection of sheets, an opening device comprising a pair of pressure members located at opposite sides of the gripper and adapted to press upon the top sheet to open the gripper, a sheet feeder whereby margins of the'sheets are fed over said pressure members and into said gripper, and operating means whereby said pressure members are moved away from each other and thereafter restored to engage the top sheet. i

12. An accumulator con'iprising a sheetholder provided witha sheet gripper adapted to hold margins of a collection of sheets, an opening device comprising a pair of pressure members located at opposite sides of the gripper and adaptedto press upon the top sheet to open the gripper, a sheet feeder whereby margins of the sheets are fed over said pressure members and into said gripper, and operating means whereby said pressure members are moved away from each other and thereafter restored to engage the top sheet, said operating means including mechanism whereby said pressure members are elevated and moved toward each other after they have been moved away from each other.

13. An accumulator comprising a sheetholder provided with a sheet gripper adapted to hold margins of a collection of sheets, an opening device comprising a pair of pressure members located at opposite sides of the gripper and adapted to press upon the top sheet to open the gripper, a sheet feeder whereby margins of the sheets are fed over said pressuremembers and into said gripper, said gripper including a yieldable lower gripping jaw below said pressure members, and operating means whereby said pressure members are forced downwardly on the top sheet to displace said yieldable lower gripping jaw, said operating means also including mechanism whereby said pressure members are moved away from each other to shift them from the sheets and thereafter moved upwardly and toward each other, so as to overlie the top sheet.

1 1-. An accumulator comprising a sheetholder provided with a sheet gripper adapted to hold margins of a collection of sheets, an opening device comprising a pair of opening lingers located at opposite sides of the gripper and ada-ted to press upon the top sheet to open the gripper, operating arms to which said opening fingers are secured, a pivotal support for said operating arms, means for lowering and raising said pivotal support, rockable guides for said operating arms, means for rocking said guides to withdraw and restore said opeir ing fingers relative to the sheets, and a sheetfeeder whereby margins of the sheets are fed over said opening fingers while said pivotal support occupies its low position.

An accun'iulator con'iprising a sheetholder providedwith a sheetgripper adapted to receive margins of the sheets, said gripper including a gripping jaw in the form of a'lever adapted to contact with a sheet at opposite sides of the lever fulcrum, and means whereby said margins of the sheets are forced into said gripper.

16. An accumulator comprising a sheetholder provided with a sheet-gripper-adapted to receive margins of the sheets, said gripper including a gripping jaw in the form of a lever adapted to contact with a sheet at opposite sides of the lever fulcrum, an opening device whereby the outer end of the lever is shifted to open the gripper, and a sheet feeder whereby margins of the sheets are forced into the gripper while said opening device is effective.

17. An accumulator comprising 'a'sheetholder provided with a sheet-gripper adapted to receive margins of the sheets,said gripper including a gripping jaw in the form of a lever adapted to contact withia sheet at opposite sidesof the lever fulcrum, the outer end of said gripping jaw being yieldable about said fulcrum to permit open-- ing of the gripper without releasing'the inner end of the jaw from the sheet, an opening device whereby saidouter end is shifted to openthe gripper, and a feeder whereby margins of the sheets are forced into'said gripper while said o ening device is effec* tive.

18. An accumulator comprising a sheet holder provided with a sheet-gripper adapted to receive margins of the sheets, said gripper including a gripping jaw in the form of a lever, a 'yieldable arm to which said lever is fulcru'medi said lever being adapted to contact with the sheet at points on opposite sides of the fulcrum, and means whereby said margins of the sheets are forced into said gripper.

19,. An accumulator comprising a sheetholder provided with a sheet-gripper adapted to receive margins of a collection of sheetsysaid gripper including a gripping jaw in the form of a lever adapted to contact at two points on the lowermost sheet, a pivotally supported arm, a pivot whereby said. arm is connected to said lever at a point between the two points of contact, aspiring cooperating with said pivotally supported arm to yieldingly retain said leverin contact with the collection of sheets, and a feeder including a pusher whereby margins of the sheets are forced into said sheet-gripper.

20. fin accumulator comprising a, sheetholder provided with a sheet-gripperfrom which the sheets are suspended, said gripper being adapted to receive the upper margins of a collection of the sheets, a feeder whereby the sheets are delivered to said gripper.

and a deflector. whereby the sheets are forced downwardly from the path of said feeder.

21. An accumulator comprising a sheet holder provided with a sheet-gripper from which the sheets are suspended, said gripper being adapted to receive the upper margins of a collection ofthe sheets, a feeder whereby the sheets are delivered to said gripper, and an opening device whereby said gripper is opened to receive the sheets, said opening device being provided with a deflector whereby portions of the suspended sheets are deflected to points below the path oii' said feeder.

22. An accumulator comprising a sheetholder provided with a sheet-gripper from which the sheets are suspended, said gripper being adapted to receive the upper margins of a collection of the sheets, a feeder whereby the sheets are delivered to said gripper, and an opening device whereby said gripper is opened to receive the sheets, said opening device being provided with a down turned extension whereby portions of the suspended sheets are deflected to points below the path of said feeder.

23. An accumulator comprising a sheetholder provided with a sheet-gripper adapt ed to hold a collection of sheets, an opening device whereby said sheet-gripper is opened to receive margins of the sheets, said opening device including a pressure member adapted to engage the top sheet of the collection, a sheet-feeder movable over said pressure member to deliver the sheets to said holder, and a deflector extending downwardly from said pressure member to de fleet portions of the sheets to points below the path of said feeder.

24. An accumulator comprising a sheetholder provided with sheet gripper adapted to hold margins of a collection of sheets, an opening device comprising a pair of pressure members located at opposite sides of the gripper and adapted to press upon the top sheet to open the gripper, a sheet feeder whereby margins of the sheets are fed over said pressure members and into said gripper, and deflectors extending downwardly from said pressure members to deflect por tions of the sheets to points below the path of said sheet-feeder.

25. An accumulator comprising a sheet holder provided withv a shee gripper from which the sheets are suspended, said gripper being adapted to receive the upper margins of a collection of the sheets, a feeder whereby the sheets are delivered to said gripper, and means whereby depending portions of the suspended sheets are drawn downwardly from said gripper. I

26. An accumulator comprising a sheetholder provided with a sheet-gripper from which the sheets are suspended, said gripper being adapted to receive the upper margins of a collection of the sheets, a feeder whereby the sheets are delivered to said gripper, and means whereby depending portions of the suspended sheets are drawn downwardly from said gripper, said means including a smoothing device movable downwardly on the outer face of the collection of sheets.

27. An accumulator comprising a sheetholder provided with a sheet-gripper from which the sheets are suspended, said gripper being adapted to receive the upper margins of a collection of the sheets, a feeder whereby the sheets are delivered to said gripper, means for reciprocating said feeder, a smoothing device adapted to engage the collection of sheets at points below said feeder, and means for imparting a downward motion to said smoothing device.

28. An accumulator comprising a sheetholder provided with a sheet-gripper from which the sheets are suspended, said gripper being adapted to receive the upper margins of a collection of the sheets, a feeder whereby the sheets are delivered to'said gripper, said feeder including a reciprocating pusher adapted to force margins of the sheets into said gripper, a smoothing device adapted to engage the collection of sheets at points below the path of said pusher, and means for imparting a downward motion to said smoothing device.

29. An accumulator comprising a sheetholder provided with a sheet-gripper from which the sheets are suspended, said gripper being adapted to receive the upper margins of a collection of the sheets, a feeder where by the sheets are delivered to said gripper, said feeder including a pusher adapted to force margins of the sheets into said gripper, a smoothing device adapted to engage the collection of sheets at points below the path of said pusher, and means for reciprocating said pusher and smoothing device.

30. An accumulator comprising a sheetholder provided with a sheet-gripper from which the sheets are suspended, said gripper being adapted to receive the upper margins of a collection of the sheets, a feeder whereby the sheets are delivered to said gripper, said feeder including a pusher adapted to force margins of the sheets into said gripper, a smoothing device adapted to engage the collection of sheets at points below the path of said pusher, means for reciprocating saidpusher and smoothing device and a cam whereby said smoothing device is forced downwardly while it engages the collection of sheets.

31. An accumulator comprising a sheetholder provided with a sheet-gripper from which the sheets are suspended, said gripper being adapted to receive the upper margins of a collection of the sheets, a feeder where by the sheets are delivered to said gripper, said feeder including a pusher adapted to force margins of the sheets into said gripper, a smoothing device adapted to engage the collection of sheets at points below the path of said pusher, and means for reciprocating said pusher and smoothing device, said and'a controlleryfor said counting means,-

i said controller including a device adapted-to render the ratchet and pawl inoperative-so as to prevent transmission of motion-to said counting 'means, and anoperating member wherebysaiddevice is-displaced to permit transmission of motion to said counting means,-said operating member being located in thepath of -the sheets passing to said sheet holder.

= 83. In a sheet-counting apparatus, anaccumulator ;Jcompr1s1 nga series of sheetholders each of which is adapted toreceive a collectionyof sheets, a feeder whereby the sheets are delivered to said sheet-holders,

said sheet-holders being movable step by step to successively receive the collections of sheets transmitted from said feeder-,counting means-whereby said sheet-holders are shifted in response to a predetermined number ofsheet-feeding operations,.-and a controllerfor said counting-means, said controller, including an operating member adapted to be displaced by the sheets.

34:. In a-she'et-counting apparatus, an accum'ulator'comprising a carrier, a series of sheet-holders carried by said carrier, each of said'sheet holders being adapted to receive a collection of sheets, areciprocating feeder whereby the sheetsare delivered to said sheet holders, said carrier being movable step by step to successively locate the sheetholders in the-path'of said reciprocatingfeeder, counting meansincluding a ratchet wheel adapted. to impart alstep by step movement -to said carrier, an voscillatory pawl, adapted to engage said ratchet wheel, said oscillatory pawl being movable in response toieach operation of said reciprocating feeder, a shield whereby said pawl is {normally retained in a position beyond said ratchet wheel, a second ratchet wheel whereby motion is transmitted tosaid shield, a second pawl adapted to actuate said second ratchet wheel, a secondshield adaptedto prevent engagement of said second pawl and ratchet wheel, said second pawlbeing movable in response to each operation of said feeder,

and a controller for said second shield, said controller includlng an operating member located adjacentto said feeder, and said op-c erating member being inthe path'of the sheet transmitted by said feeder.

35.In a' sheet-counting apparatus, an

accumulator comprising a rotary carrier, a

series ofsheet-holders carried by said rotary carr er, each of v said sheet holders being adaptedto receive a collection of sheets, a

reciprocating feeder whereby thesheets are delivered to said sheet-holders, said rotary carrier being movable step by step to successively located the sheet-holders in the path, ofsaid reciprocating feeder, counting means including a, ratchet wheel adapted to impart a step by step-movement to said rotary carrier, an oscillatory pawl adapted to engage said ratchet wheel,-said oscillatory pawl being movable in response to each operation of said reciprocating feeder, a rotary shield whereby said pawl is normally retained in a position'beyond said ratchet wheel, a second ratchet wheel whereby 1 motion is transmitted to said rotary shield, a second pawl adapted to actuate said second ratchet wheel, a second shield adapted to prevent en gagementof said second pawl and' ratchet wheel, said second pawl being movable in response to each operation of said feeder, and a controller for said second shield, said controller including an operating memberlocated adjacent to said feeder, said'feeder being slotted to receive said operating member so as to permit operation oflthe feeder independently of said Operating member, and said operating member being in the path of the sheet transmitted by said feeder.

36. A bag-turning machine provided with abag-turning plunger, a gripper into which margins of the bags are forced by said plunger, said plunger being adapted to enter said gripper and'said gripper being adapted to hold a collection of bags, and bag-countng, means whereby said gripper is shifted n response to a predetermined number of bag-turning operations. i

37. In a machine of the character described, a gripper adapted to hold a collection of bags, an opening device whereby said gripper is opened to receive margins of the bags, and a bag-turner cooperating with said.

opening device to deliver the bags to said 38. In a machine of the character described, a gripper adapted to hold a collection of bags, an -opening device whereby said gripper is opened to receive margins ofthe bags, and a bag-turner cooperating with said opening device to deliver the, bags tojsaid gripper, said bag-turner including a bagturning plunger whereby margins of the bags-are forced into said gripper.

3,9. In a machine ofthe character described, a bag-holder provided, with a'baggripper adapted to receive margins of a collection of bags, an opening device Whereby said bag-gripper is opened to receive said margins, and a bag-turner cooperating with said opening device to deliver bags to said bag-holder, said bag-turner including a bagturning plunger movable over the margins of the bags in said bag-gripper, and said opening device including a pressure member whereby said margins of the bags are displaced and held below the path of said bag- 1 turning plunger.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto affix my signature.

DANIEL BELCHER. 

